Typical TBD Guy Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Chargers, Vikings, and Saints are all likely to move to LA before we do. Chargers make the most sense because they started out in LA and because SD isn't that great a football town (not to mention a move to LA won't mess up the geographically aligned standings). Also, there will be no 33rd expansion team. 32 is more than enough, as Tagliabue and many owners have stated repeatedly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB2004 Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 DONT SHOOT THE MESSENGER...got this froma nother site"Add the Bills to the short list of teams being mentioned as relocation candidates for Los Angeles. They join the Vikings and the Saints. Scratch the Colts, who are close to a deal with the city of Indianapolis for a retractable-roof stadium." -- Philadelphia Daily News 114872[/snapback] That's not going to happen. The city of Buffalo knows that football is too important. Bills fans will not let that happen By the way, nice picture Rudy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobot Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 I agree with Helmet. I'd think Saints, Chargers, Vikings in that order. Jacobs and Golisano (unless he becomes Governor) would step forward in the event that the Bills goes up for sale. Ralph could also sell it to the city of Buffalo for a buck, and put TSW in charge of all hirings and firings. BTW, Orchard Park is going down today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerJ Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 The Bills will always be the subject of that kind of speculation because they are a small market team. There's nothing we can do about that. I doubt it's anything more then speculation. No one inside the Bills organization is leaking information saying, "Yeah, we're as good as gone." Things can change of course, but the Bills, at least in reacent years (since the late 80s at least) the Bills have been a consistent moneymaker. Since not every team is, and even Los Angeles teams have lost money when there's been one there, I don't see a move as being imminent. I'm just hoping a strong buyer with local interests buys the team when Ralph is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Coli Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Hypothetically, how much money do you think Mr. Wilson's daughter will want for the team? Has there been any numbers thrown around as to how much the franchise is actually worth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Coli Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Found the answer to my own question. http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/forbes.html Buffalo Bills NFL Ralph Wilson Jr. $637 million Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Poobah Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 The Bills will always be the subject of that kind of speculation because they are a small market team. There's nothing we can do about that. I doubt it's anything more then speculation. No one inside the Bills organization is leaking information saying, "Yeah, we're as good as gone." Things can change of course, but the Bills, at least in reacent years (since the late 80s at least) the Bills have been a consistent moneymaker. Since not every team is, and even Los Angeles teams have lost money when there's been one there, I don't see a move as being imminent. I'm just hoping a strong buyer with local interests buys the team when Ralph is gone. 115478[/snapback] Good point. I guess we'll deal with it when it becomes an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammered a Lot Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Are the Bills really in a small market?? I think not if you include the Canadian market. Part of the Canadian market problem besides the border crossing, is the exchange rate, the difference in CFL rules to NFL rules, to start with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsNYC Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 I'm not worried or in denial. Buffalo has a strong market win or lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyNowBuffalo Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Okay here is a short list of WNY buyers: Tom Golisano, Danny Wegman, and Jeremy Jacobs. All of them have the means, have shown some interest in pro sports, and have ties to WNY so that they would NOT move the team if they bought it. Sorry to you, and have a nice day. MBD 115361[/snapback] Don't forget the Rich family... Can't remember where I heard it, so my credibility is admittedly sh*t, but I was told they've already put together a plan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadBuffaloDisease Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Don't forget the Rich family... Can't remember where I heard it, so my credibility is admittedly sh*t, but I was told they've already put together a plan... 115506[/snapback] Forgot about them. I'm sure there are others as well. Bottom line is the Bills are profitable for the NFL and their owner, and the community wants them, so they're not going anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Here we go again. As one of the few on this board who have actually BEEN through a franchise move, I say the following. The Bills aren't going anywhere. You have a profitable franchise, drawing from a regional area, not just Buffalo, but also Rochester, Syracuse, and even Toronto and Hamilton. That must be close to five million people. Ralph isn't going to live forever, of course, but there are other buyers in the area which will keep the team where it is. I'm tired of "the sky is falling" crap, but like someone posted here earlier, it has come up about once a week for the last twenty years. I think the Chargers will move 130 miles north to a new Los Angeles stadium in about five years. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mile High Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Here we go again. As one of the few on this board who have actually BEEN through a franchise move, I say the following. The Bills aren't going anywhere. You have a profitable franchise, drawing from a regional area, not just Buffalo, but also Rochester, Syracuse, and even Toronto and Hamilton. That must be close to five million people. Ralph isn't going to live forever, of course, but there are other buyers in the area which will keep the team where it is. I'm tired of "the sky is falling" crap, but like someone posted here earlier, it has come up about once a week for the last twenty years. I think the Chargers will move 130 miles north to a new Los Angeles stadium in about five years. Mike 115585[/snapback] Well said. I thought that Ralph was willing the team to his daughter anyway? Anyone else ever hear that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 You posted this last time this came up Buckeye. Since this comes up once a week, do you post this same response each time? Put it in a text file and cut and paste it. Will save you time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Well said. I thought that Ralph was willing the team to his daughter anyways? Anyone else ever hear that? 115587[/snapback] The word is anyway. There is no such word as anyways. Anyway the issue is the estate taxes. At least that's been the issue that has been posted here numerous times and which no one definitely knows the status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Just to be clear, selling tickets is only one reason a team stays in a city. The other reasons are market size (i.e advertising money) and corporate sponsorship. Buffalo is a bottom feeder in both categories. Every city sells tickets when a team wins. There's a lot of denial on this board, and that's okay if it makes people feel better, but the honest truth is there is only one reason the Bills are in Buffalo. That reason is Ralph Wilson. Sadly the Bills will be gone from Buffalo within 5 years after his death unless a WNY buyer steps forward. List all the justifictions you want, but there are numerous communities better suited than Buffalo to support a NFL franchise (for weather, population and financial reasons). Whoever buys the Bills will move the team to their pet location. Just the way it is. 115347[/snapback] The Bills are more than Buffalo, they are Rochester as well. That makes a market on a par with Denver and St.Louis. As far as corporate support, you have Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb, Wegman's, Delaware North, Rich Foods, among others. It's not like there is nothing. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mile High Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 The word is anyway. There is no such word as anyways. Anyway the issue is the estate taxes. At least that's been the issue that has been posted here numerous times and which no one definitely knows the status. 115591[/snapback] Thanks for th english lesson dick head or is it dickhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Thanks for th english lesson dick head or is it dickhead. 115595[/snapback] It's Mr. Dick Head. You forgot the capitalization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mile High Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 It's Mr. Dick Head. You forgot the capitalization. 115599[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 You posted this last time this came up Buckeye. Since this comes up once a week, do you post this same response each time? Put it in a text file and cut and paste it. Will save you time. 115588[/snapback] Thanks for the tip. Good eye. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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